Category Archives: Furniture Perspective Drawing

Excited to find one of my illustrations in the Student Art Guide blog article called “One Point Perspective Drawing: The Ultimate Guide”. Here is the description “This article contains everything an Art student needs to know about drawing in one point perspective. It includes step-by-step tutorials, lesson plans, handouts, videos and free downloadable worksheets.” The blog specializes in articles helping art students excel and I found it an amazing resource for art instructions. Check this out:

Here is an illustration of a one-point perspective sofa demonstrating steps for adding a fabric that has a horizontal and vertical pattern. Before drawing the pattern, it is helpful to draw a grid in perspective to use as a visual guide. The grid is added by drawing vertical guidelines that are equidistant apart from the top to the bottom of the seat back. In a one-point perspective the flat front of the furniture piece is an elevation which is measurable. Next, at the point where the pattern guideline meets the seat pillow, add perspective guidelines, using the single vanishing point drawing the angled lines. Where these guidelines meet the end of the seat pillow, draw vertical lines on the flat front. Estimate the horizontal lines of the grid. Now you can draw the fabric pattern in perspective using the grid as a visual guide. Below is the finished image with the sofa. Notice the next image below shows each of the patterns and textures that were included in this finished drawing.

This line drawing of a two-point perspective bookcase includes accessories on each shelf and a plant on the floor. This is adding flavor and character to the drawing with the value, texture and patterns. Before working on this final drawing, I practiced with a quick sketch. As I am sketching, ideas pop into my head to use in the final drawing. Notice in this sketch shown below, it is shown in a one-point perspective view which is faster and easier to draw.

In one-point perspective, the location of the piece of furniture in relation to the vanishing point determines how much of that piece is seen by the viewer. The furniture piece will have a flat front and the lines drawn are either horizontal, vertical or from the vanishing point. Here is an example of three chairs drawn in one-point perspective that each are located in a different position to the vanishing point. Notice the following characteristics:

The center chair does not show either side of the piece. The two legs in the front legs show an inside and front side.

The chair on the left shows the front and right side of the chair which is the same for the legs. The fabric pattern is drawn vertically on the flat areas. On the seat, guidelines from the vanishing point are used to keep the pattern in perspective.

The chair on the right shows the front and left side of the chair which is the same for the legs, just the opposite of the chair on the left. Again, the fabric pattern follows the lines of the chair with vertical lines on the flat areas. On the seat, guidelines from the vanishing point are used to keep the pattern in perspective.

I have more fun drawing plants in my interior images. So many elements in an interior space need to have correct proportion to be success and yet plants can be drawn more freely and less restrictive. The image above includes a large plant in the corner and an orchid on the side table. They are successful shown in the image against the white background. This is true for the image below.

Check out these two drawings that show how the legs were drawn on a two-point perspective table. Note the second vanishing point is off the page and the dotted lines represent perspective guide lines from the vanish point.

The finished drawing above shows the darker side plane used the right vanishing point (RVP) and the lighter side plane uses the left perspective point (LVP) to draw the leg shape. This is true for the sides of the legs that are underneath the table top. The drawing below, which was drawn first, shows the perspective guide lines creating the table leg shape on the ground. Think about the parallel planes as you are drawing furniture in two point perspective.

I am always looking for visual ways to communicate the properties of perspective drawing to my students. In a one-point perspective drawing, the furniture piece will have a flat front and the sides of the piece will be drawn using the single vanishing point and perspective guide lines. The pattern of the material on the flat front is to scale meaning there is not any perspective distortion. The sides and top of the ottoman fabric pattern uses the perspective guide lines.

When drawing case goods it is important to get the legs drawn correctly using the perspective guide lines. Depending on where the location of the piece is to the vanishing point will determine what side of the piece will be seen. Notice in the table to the left will show the right side of the legs and the table on the right will show the left side of the legs. Want to learn more about drawing furniture in perspective? Check out my book Exploring Perspective Hand Drawing.